Crescent

Diana Abu-Jaber

I just finished this wonderful book. Abu-Jaber has written a novel that contains a story within a story. Thirty-nine year old Sirine, half Arab half American, has been raised in Irangeles, a Persian and Arab - American community of Los Angeles, by her immigrant uncle. Sirine is a chef in a Lebanese restaurant, never been married, who devotes all of her passion to cooking. Until............ this is a love story. Sirine falls in love with a Iraqi immigrant. The novel tells of the loneliness of the immigrant, the homesickness and the guilt of leaving family and friends behind. The beauty of Iraq, something we don't often hear about or see, is described in detail.

One of the most wonderful parts of the novel, is the uncle's telling of a story, a tale from the old country. Every chapter begins with bits of his tale. The uncle is often very humorous and the tale stands on its own. This book will get five stars from me.